NaraHotel
The Nara Hotel opened in 1909 on a hill above Nara Park as the guest house for dignitaries visiting the old capital, and it has been receiving them since: Einstein played the piano in the lounge, and the register runs through most of the twentieth century.
Nara Hotel is a hotel destination wedding venue in Nara, Japan, hosting 10 to 150 guests in the $$$ price range, reached from Kansai International (KIX), ~90 minutes by car. Best months: July, August, September, December.
Nara Hotel in Nara, open July – September, December.
The Nara Hotel opened in 1909 on a hill above Nara Park as the guest house for dignitaries visiting the old capital, and it has been receiving them since: Einstein played the piano in the lounge, and the register runs through most of the twentieth century.
The main building is by Tatsuno Kingo, the architect of Tokyo Station, built in hinoki cypress in the Momoyama palace manner, with a tiled roof, coffered ceilings and fireplaces that look like they belong in a temple.
There are 129 rooms across the main building and an annex, and four banquet halls that take weddings and receptions.
What the hotel gives a wedding is the town around it: Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha and 1,200 free-roaming deer are a walk away, and Kyoto is 45 minutes by train, so guests can do the whole of the old capital region from one bed.
4 notes of our own.
Opened 1909 as the guest house of the old capital
Main building by Tatsuno Kingo, architect of Tokyo Station
Hinoki cypress construction in the Momoyama palace manner
129 rooms across main building and annex, four banquet halls
Best held in July, August, September.
The months the weather, and the local rhythm, is kindest to a stay at Nara Hotel.
Ask about a date.
Choose a day from the calendar.
Nothing is reserved until the venue confirms. A first note comes back within two business days.
How the weekend usually runs.
Yours will be different, nothing below is required. Every planning begins with the three meals you most want to eat, and builds outward.
- 17:00Check in, drinks in the lounge where Einstein played
- 08:00Todai-ji before the coaches, deer in the park
- 14:00Ceremony at Kasuga Taisha or in the hotel
- 16:00Drinks on the hotel terrace above the park
- 18:00Banquet under the coffered ceiling of the main building
- 10:30Farewell brunch, then the train to Kyoto
Things worth knowing.
KIX · ~90 minutes by car
Guests fly into Kansai International. Our team arranges every transfer.
$19,000
The Nara Hotel publishes neither capacity nor wedding prices, so every figure here is ours, built from Japanese hotel banquet norms at this class and converted at about 155 yen to the dollar.
See the full figure+
3,000,000 to 6,000,000 yen for 70 guests, about $19,000 to $39,000 (estimated)
$1,300
A one-time licence and setup fee, paid to the venue.
See the full figure+
Not published; budget 200,000 to 500,000 yen, about $1,300 to $3,200 (estimated)
15,000 to 25,000 yen a head for banquet food and drink / head
A seated dinner with wine and service, by headcount.
See the full figure+
15,000 to 25,000 yen a head for banquet food and drink (estimated)
$260 / night
A standard room in the wedding window. Group rates on request.
See the full figure+
Rooms from roughly 40,000 yen, about $260 (estimated)
July – September, December
The 4 months the weather is kindest. Shoulder dates soften the light and the rates.
Figures are estimates, modeled from regional rates and public sources, not a quote from the venue. Once the venue claims this page, their own rates take precedence.
Asked along the way.
How many guests can the Nara Hotel seat?+
The hotel does not publish a wedding capacity. It has four banquet halls of different sizes used for weddings and receptions, so a party of 100 to 150 is a reasonable planning assumption, and the hotel will confirm the room against your number.
Why marry in Nara rather than Kyoto?+
Nara was the capital before Kyoto and it is far quieter. Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha and the deer park sit within a walk of the hotel, and Kyoto is 45 minutes by train, so guests get the older city without the Kyoto crowds or room rates.
What is the building like?+
The main building is 1909 hinoki cypress by Tatsuno Kingo in the Momoyama palace style, with a tiled roof and coffered ceilings. There is an annex with more conventional rooms, and 129 rooms in total across the two.
How do guests reach Nara?+
Kansai International is about 90 minutes by car, Osaka Itami about 70. By train, the Kintetsu limited express from Osaka Namba takes 40 minutes and Kyoto to Nara runs 35 to 45 minutes, so a Kyoto-based guest list can come for the day.
What does a wedding here cost?+
The hotel does not publish wedding prices. Japanese hotel banquets at this class commonly run 15,000 to 25,000 yen a head for food and drink before ceremony and attire, and the hotel quotes a package after an enquiry.
Others to weigh.
Ask about dates at Nara Hotel.
A note to us with a rough season and guest count. Nothing is reserved until the venue confirms. A reply comes within two business days, from a person by name.